Propagating Waves Transverse to the Magnetic Field in a Solar Prominence |
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Manuel Luna Submitted: 2013-09-09 04:06
We report an unusual set of observations of waves in a large prominence pillar which consist of
pulses propagating perpendicular to the prominence magnetic field. We observe a huge quiescent
prominence with the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) in
EUV on 2012 October 10 and only a part of it, the pillar, which is a foot or barb of the prominence,
with the Hinode Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) (in Ca II and Hα lines), Sac Peak (in Hα, Hβ and
Na-D3 lines), THEMIS (?T"lescope H"liographique pour l? Etude du Magn?tisme et des Instabilit"s
Solaires") with the MTR (MulTi-Raies) spectropolarimeter (in He D3 line). The THEMIS/MTR
data indicates that the magnetic field in the pillar is essentially horizontal and the observations in
the optical domain show a large number of horizontally aligned features on a much smaller scale than
the pillar as a whole. The data is consistent with a model of cool prominence plasma trapped in the
dips of horizontal field lines. The SOT and Sac Peak data over the 4 hour observing period show
vertical oscillations appearing as wave pulses. These pulses, which include a Doppler signature, move
vertically, perpendicular to the field direction, along thin quasi-vertical columns in the much broader
pillar. The pulses have a velocity of propagation of about 10 km s-1, a period about 300 sec, and
a wavelength around 2000 km. We interpret these waves in terms of fast magneto-sonic waves and
discuss possible wave drivers.
Authors: B. Schmieder, T.A. Kucera, K. Knizhnik, M. Luna, A. Lopez-Ariste, and D.Toot
Projects: Hinode/SOT,SDO-AIA,THEMIS/MTR
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Publication Status: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal
Last Modified: 2013-09-09 10:12
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